Understanding epilepsy a key to managing it

People with epilepsy are finding new and effective ways to deal with their condition.

This news is significant, considering the disorder affects two and a half million Americans (at a cost of $12.5 billion annually), and that 10 percent of the U.S. will experience a seizure during their lifetime.

Doctors say the key to helping people with epilepsy manage their medical condition is to better understand it. The Epilepsy Foundation offers this breakdown.

Epilepsy 101

Epilepsy is a noncontagious, treatable disorder. It’s characterized by epileptic seizures that are caused by brief disturbances in the brain’s electrical activity. While seizures can sometimes be alarming, they are usually not dangerous.

Seizure First Aid

•Cushion the head, removing glasses if necessary.

•Loosen tight clothing.

•Turn the person on his or her side.

•Time the seizure with a watch.

•If longer than five minutes, call for medical help.

•Do not put anything in the person’s mouth.

•Look for a medical I.D.

•Do not hold the person down.

•As the seizure ends, offer help and comfort.

Living with Epilepsy

Despite the fact that 181,000 cases of epilepsy are diagnosed each year, people living with the condition are often stigmatized.

Adults with epilepsy may also face negative reactions to their condition––at the workplace, in public, even at home.

For more information, visit www.epilepsyfoundation.org.

This story provided by North American Precis Syndicate, Inc.